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Welcome back to World Brief, where we’re looking at U.S. policy toward Israel, last-minute White House trade measures, and the resignation of Lithuanian Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas.

The United States is Israel’s No. 1 ally, and U.S. President Donald Trump appears determined to maintain that image. But as Gaza’s humanitarian crisis escalates to famine-level warnings, foreign powers announce their intention to recognize a Palestinian state, and U.S. Republicans break rank to criticize the Israeli military, Trump is struggling to balance preserving the close U.S.-Israel relationship with mounting public pressure to end the Israel-Hamas war.

Welcome back to World Brief, where we’re looking at U.S. policy toward Israel, last-minute White House trade measures, and the resignation of Lithuanian Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas.

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The United States is Israel’s No. 1 ally, and U.S. President Donald Trump appears determined to maintain that image. But as Gaza’s humanitarian crisis escalates to famine-level warnings, foreign powers announce their intention to recognize a Palestinian state, and U.S. Republicans break rank to criticize the Israeli military, Trump is struggling to balance preserving the close U.S.-Israel relationship with mounting public pressure to end the Israel-Hamas war.

“The fastest way to end the Humanitarian Crises in Gaza is for Hamas to SURRENDER AND RELEASE THE HOSTAGES!!!” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Thursday, reiterating his administration’s past position. His post came shortly after White House envoy Steve Witkoff arrived in Israel to push Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to salvage cease-fire talks.

Witkoff and U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee intend to travel to Gaza on Friday to inspect aid distribution........

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